New York Mets All-Star J.D. Martinez has been delayed in making his debut with the team due to lower back tightness. The issue is not a major concern, but the team is closely monitoring how Martinez responds to treatment before deciding on a return to the field.
Martinez recently signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Mets and had been experiencing soreness in his lower back, similar to last season when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manager Carlos Mendoza spoke with Martinez about the issue and confirmed that he received a shot to address the tightness.
Mendoza stated that Martinez had experienced a similar problem last year and received treatment, which allowed him to resume playing shortly after. The team is closely monitoring how Martinez responds to treatment over the next few days before determining his return to the field.
Initially, Mendoza believed that Martinez was just experiencing general soreness, but it was later identified as lower back tightness being the primary issue. During his time with the Dodgers in 2023, Martinez had a successful season, hitting .271 with 33 home runs and 103 RBIs. Once healthy, he will serve as the Mets’ main designated hitter while also seeing some playing time in the outfield. Over the weekend, Martinez played two rehab games with Class A St. Lucie, going 1 for 8 at the plate.
